Egg-cell case



EGG CELL OASE' (No Mod No. 465,065. PatentedDec. 15, 1891.

Nrrnn S'rarns PATENT Unwed LEE MILLER, OF ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY.

EGC=CELL CASE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. d65,065, dated December 15, 1891 Application filed March 11, 189l- To aZZ whom it may concern/.-

Be it known that I, LEE MILLER, of Elizabeth, in the county of Union and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Egg-Carriers; and I do hereby declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

This invention relates to improvements in receptacles for carrying and transporting eggs, &c., and has for its object to produce a more simple and perfect device than has heretofore been made, enabling the eggs to be packed and transported with a much lower percentage of loss; and the invention consists in certain novel details of construction and arrangements of parts to be now described, and pointed outparticularly in the appended claim.

The accompanying drawing represents a perspective view of an egg-case constructed in accordance with my invention.

This class of cases has heretofore been constructed with the box-like closure having the side walls A and top and bottom 13 i, respectively, the sections of the box, or, as I shall term it, the case, being preferably hinged together, and each provided with a series of cup-shaped receptacles or holders 0. These receptacles or holders 0 are formed by convolutes of spring-wire extended in the direction of the length of the axis of the convolute, fastened to the top or bottom, as the case may be, by fastening means at the apex. The holders 0 on the top and bottom form complementary registering sections, and are designed, when brought together, with an egg in place, to hold the same against shocks or jars and from contact with each other or with the sides of the case, which, for economy of manufacture and transportation, should be made as small as practicable; but serious difficulty has been experienced in the practical operation and manufacture of these cases, owing to the fact that the sections of the holders would not register accurately under all circumstances when broughttogethcr, and would, when subjected to unusual jars or strains, come in contact with each other or Serial No. 384,609. (No model.)

with the sides of the case, causing the destruction of the contained eggs, and when made of wire heavy enough to retain its place perfectlyand prevent the mishaps mentioned the spring effect was practically destroyed, the result being a larger percentage of loss than in the former instance, to say nothing of the increased cost of manufacture. Now I propose to overcome these difficulties by forming the complementary sections of light spring-wire, and making them mutually supporting by connecting adjacent ones in series by connecting-strips D, which, in the present instance, are simply small metal pieces hav ing the ends bent around the wires near the larger ends of the convolutes. I prefer to connect the halves of the holders together in series of half a dozen, although the exact number is immaterial; but sufficient only should be connected to form a structure which will register with the complementary section accurately and hold the eggs out of contact with the adjacent sections and the sides of the case without materiallyhurting the springsupporting action of the holders. It will be particularly noted, however, that the series of holders which are united must not be very large or embrace a large number of holders, because in such instance they are madepractically rigid against any lateral movement, and the useful effect incident to the employment of spring-holders is destroyed. As before stated, the holders should be united in series of half a dozen, as this is a sufficient number to cause the proper registry of complementary series, and at the same time permits all the lateral spring movement necessary for the complete protection of the eggs during transportation. At the apex of the convolutes I prefer to form a small eye or loop and to unite the same to the top or bottom by a screw E or equivalent, as this construction gives a square base which will hold the sections upright, and thereby assist in the perfect discharge of the functions of the holders.

This construction of case or receptacle will be found to protect the eggs perfectly against damage during transportation, and coupled with its small initial cost makes it an exceedingly practical carrier.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is As an improved article of manufacture, the herein-described egg-carrier, consisting of the two case-sections hinged together and having the inclosing sides and top and bottom, as described, the convolute spring cup-shaped holders secured in two or more corresponding series within said top and bottom sections, respectively, and the strips uniting the holders of each series, whereby they are caused to register with the complementary series in the opposite section and are prevented from contacting with each other and the inclosing sides when subjected to unusual jar, while sufficient play is permitted to prevent injury to the eggs, said series each embracing a relatively small number of holders, as and for the purpose set forth.

LEE MILLER.

Witnesses:

JOHN M. HUGHES, MARTIN R. KAYS. 

